NGA EXECUTIVE SAYS INDEPENDENTS STRONGER TODAY

ARLINGTON, Va. -- Tom Zaucha is upbeat about where independent supermarkets are today and even more optimistic about where they are headed in the future.The president and chief executive officer of the National Grocers Association here told SN, on the eve of this week's NGA convention in Las Vegas: "As far as where independents are today, I would say they're more effectively positioned to compete

ARLINGTON, Va. -- Tom Zaucha is upbeat about where independent supermarkets are today and even more optimistic about where they are headed in the future.

The president and chief executive officer of the National Grocers Association here told SN, on the eve of this week's NGA convention in Las Vegas: "As far as where independents are today, I would say they're more effectively positioned to compete against mega-chains and other classes of trade, like supercenters, than they were a year